Amateurs punished for defensive errors as Iveagh edge a thriller

Iveagh left Ferris Park on Saturday with all three points after edging out hosts Dromore Amateurs by a single goal in a five goal thriller.

A win would have made Dromore safe and, knowing that, they began nervously.

This gave Iveagh the incentive to put the pressure on the Dromore back line.

There were little chances for either team in the opening 20 minutes but then Iveagh hit Dromore on the break when the centre forward was allowed to drop deep, pick the ball up and play a through ball to the on rushing midfielder.

With only N Thompson to beat the midfielder calmly placed the ball into the net.

Dromore started to get into the game after this and a half chance for C Gililand couldn’t find its way into the Iveagh net.

Just before half-time, Iveagh got their second goal when slack marking from a corner resulted in the ball being headed back across goal from the back post to the centre back who made no mistake from five yards.

For the second week running, Dromore knew that they had to score early to have any chance of getting anything from the game.

With the second half turning into a midfield battle, good play down the Dromore right saw the ball fall to G Rowan and he hit a great shot into the postage stamp from 25 yards out.

This was the lift that Dromore needed and they started to push for the equaliser.

But yet again when they weere well into the game, Dromore gave the ball away in a dangerous position and they were made to pay when the Iveagh striker surrounded by three Dromore players somehow poked the ball home.

With 10 minutes remaining, Dromore got a second goal when W McMurray’s free-kick went straight in.

This set up an intense last 10 minutes with Dromore pushing for a goal but to no avail.